Preclearance Programs
Jo-Ann Bentz-Blanco, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Preclearance and Offshore Programs (POP)
Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Riverdale, Maryland
March 2017
POP Management
Director: Jennifer Smythe
Assistant Directors:
o Jo-Ann Bentz-Blanco (Western Hemisphere)
o Brendon Reardon (Eastern Hemisphere)
o Eric Longen (Business)
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Over 100 people employed in
the U.S. and worldwide:
• Area Directors
• Pest Mitigation Specialists
• Agriculturists
• Locally Employed Staff
What is a Preclearance Program?
An operation supporting and
conducting phytosanitary inspection,
and/or treatment certification in the
country of origin of a specific
commodity to be exported to the
United States.
Specifically:
• It is an offshore program;PPQ inspects and clears shipments in the country of origin;
• Has an operational work plan (OWP);
• Is established through a cooperative service agreement;
• Is full cost recovery via a trust fund; and,
• Is intended to be equivalent to U.S. port of entry inspection.
Benefits of a Preclearance Program
• Industry preference
• Expedited entry of a regulated commodity that requires inspection
and/or mandatory treatment as these were met before export
• Lower risk of interceptions, rejection, or delays upon arrival
• Ensures quality produce
• Facilitates trade of high risk commodities, e.g., fruit fly hosts from
countries where fruit flies occur
• Technical oversight and access
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ROLE OF POP IN PRECLEARANCE PROGRAMS
POP Provides:
• Operational Management
• Technical Oversight
• Trust Fund Management
• Program Recommendations
POP IS NOT INVOLVED WITH MARKET ACCESS OR
TRADE NEGOTIATION
– These are functions of Phytosanitary Issues Management (PIM)
A Preclearance Program is a cooperation between:
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NPPO foreign country
USDA APHIS
IndustryCooperator
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APHIS authorizes irradiation
treatment applied in a commodity’s
country of origin prior to export to
the United States if treated under a
preclearance program.
Irradiation Preclearance Program Activities:
Approved fruits and vegetables are inspected for pests by a PPQ official in the
country of origin.
• Fruit inspection will always be conducted before treatment is authorized.
• A joint inspection between NPPO and PPQ inspector will be done on an
official fruit sample selected from a predetermined number of boxes
throughout the lot.
• Suspect fruits are cut and inspected for internal feeders.
• Action will be taken yielding a rejection for treatment if Target pest exceeds
the allowed number or non-target pest identification is not available.
• Irradiation treatment is then applied to commodities in insect-proof packaging at
an APHIS-certified treatment facility under PPQ supervision prior to
shipping.
• The treated commodities are safeguarded until they are exported to the United
States.
PPQ pre-cleared irradiated consignments must have the following
documentation:
• APHIS Import Permit
• Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) issued by the foreign government
• PPQ Form 203–Foreign Site Certificate of Inspection and/or Treatment
Irradiation Preclearance Programs
Mexico Irradiation Preclearance Program
Irradiated fruit weight (metric ton) from Mexico
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
guava
2014 2015 2016
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
chile manzano mango
2014 2015 2016
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
sweet lime carambola pomegranate
2014 2015 2016
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
dragon fruit fig pitaya
2014 2015 2016
Son Son Facility
An Phu Irradiation Joint Stock Company (API Facility)
Vietnam Irradiation
Preclearance Program
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
dragon fruit longan rambutan litchi
2014 2015 2016
Irradiated fruit weight (metric ton) from Vietnam
Thailand Irradiation
Preclearance Program
- Thai Irradiation Center (TIC)
- Synergy Health Irradiation Facility
Irradiated fruit weight (metric ton) from Thailand
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500 2014 2015 2016
India Irradiation
Preclearance Program
- Nasik
- Vashi
- Bangalore
Irradiated fruit weight (metric ton) from India
2014
2015
2016
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
mango pomegranate
2014 2015 2016
Australia Irradiation Pilot Program
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
mango litchi
2015 2016
Irradiated fruit weight (metric ton) from Australia
Where to find information?https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import-
information/sa_preclearance/ct_preclearance_activities
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Questions?
